Chapter Five: Yet Another Concert.

"And here we go again," Arianna sighed, a touch of exasperation in her voice.

"Zip me up, will you?"

Arianna puled the zipper up on the back of Elissa's colorguard uniform.

"Thanks, doll!"

"Sure." Elissa heard Arianna's voice become strained.

"What's the matter?" Elissa asked, turning around just in time to see Marah walk up and clap Arianna on the shoulder, Arianna quickly shrugging him off.

"Do you think we are going to do great tonight? Isn't it a beautiful night? Too bad the marching concert is in the gym... I could have whipped up a routine if I would have known the weather would have been this nice!"

"It's Halloween, Mr. Marah. A lot of kids aren't going to be here," said Arianna, a touch of concern in her voice that Elissa knew she was trying to hide.

"Why do you think that?" Marah's voice was a bit strained, also. Apparently, he thought she was trying to be difficult again. Well, if Ari was going to be difficult, Elissa could bring out the "secret weapon" against Arianna.

"What do children usually do Halloween night, Mr. Marah?" Arianna sneered, her calm composure wearing off too soon for her own good. Elissa saw Mr. Marah's smile become a grin of tolerance. Elissa grinned like her director as Arianna began to catch on what was going on...

"You brought it upon yourself, Arianna. I swear, I didn't tell him that you had your Halloween costume in your uniform bag..." Elissa could barely lie, she was giggling so hard.

"What I can't believe is that it was actually in there! I know I didn't put it there."

Arianna was dressed in a robe of shimmering green, a golden headband laying over her forehead. Marah had shoved a bright orange pumpkin pail into her hand, full to the brim with candy. The costume was to be the costume for a Halloween party the night after the concert, but, Elissa, after finding out that band students were needed to pass out candy to the audience before the show, had called Arianna's house and bribed her little sister to put the costume in her older sister's uniform bag before she left. For once, the girl had listened... After seeing the costume in her bag, Elissa ran and told Marah Arianna had a costume with her and would gladly help out. Marah, not being a fool, knew Elissa was trying to push Arianna into an uncomfortable position; but he didn't care. He needed helpers and Arianna would be just fine.

"Well, it looks like we're in this together," a familiar voice spoke up. Aaron Gable stood in front of Arianna and Elissa, dressed in a Phantom of the Opera costume, a mask covering half his face and clutching an identical orange pail of treats. "I brought the costume for Peter to wear at the party tomorrow night, but Marah has eyes like a hawk and told me to put it on..."

Elissa's heart jumped. The Phantom had been one of the things in life that she loved the most, ever since seeing the show in N.Y.C. With Arianna during a band trip a few years ago. Even Arianna raised an eyebrow as Aaron swept up behind her, covering her with his cloak.

"Come on, now! Get a move on! People are waiting!"

Marah was screaming orders at people and had spotted the three in the hallway, doing nothing but talking. As Aaron walked by with Arianna, Elissa grabbed her arm.

"Don't ruin my chances with him!"

"Don't worry, Elissa! Nothing will happen. I'm not interesting in brown haired, brown eyed percussionists. Blond haired, blue eyed trumpet players are my thing, remember?"

And with that, Arianna disappeared behind a corner with Aaron.

"Damn her! Always so uptight and then she gets rewarded with Aaron as the Phantom, no less! Well, it was my idea to get her to help Marah out... He really was a jerk to her before, but Arianna is just-"

"Elissa, I'm going to call the men in the white jackets and butterfly nets to come and get you if you are really talking to yourself."

"Gosh, Kasey! Don't sneak up on me! What are you doing here?"

"Wondering why you are talking to yourself and why Arianna is playing dress-up with Gable. Besides, Marie has just sent all the guard members looking for you. You were supposed to be in the theater with us ten minutes ago."

"Great..."

"Never, NEVER again!"

"Well, too bad. We have two more of these indoor marching concerts until we graduate."

"Not if I can help it! The only way I am doing another is if I am majorette!"

Arianna was complaining about the concert and, for once, Elissa was joining her.

A Halloween themed concert, the program consisted of several non-spooky songs and plenty of cheesy effects that didn't even work. The fog machine had not been working at the beginning and then, off-cue, it suddenly emitted large amounts of a tan fog that smelled like rotten eggs. The machine undoubtedly broken and the crowd choking on fumes, glow sticks seemed to be the only thing to redeem the band. However, the glow was so light that no one could really see them. The marching part of the concert itself was clumsily run through. It didn't help that Marah kept dropping his baton.

Elissa had to admit that Arianna was right. The concert was awful.

"Great job tonight, Arianna," said Marah with enough venom to even take Ari by surprise. "You did a great job missing a turn and congrats on dropping your glow stick."

Not missing a beat, Arianna called back, "You did pretty well yourself as you dropped your baton every few seconds! I was impressed!"

Elissa sighed. Marah and Ari hated each other more than ever.

Once again, I don't own the Phantom... The actual concert was a true event. It was awful and half the audience left because of the putrid fog... ew. Please review! Thanks!